Original subtitles

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?

As you know, Beatrice and Evangeline Eliott

sail for England tomorrow, aboard the Laconia.

Now while I'm happy to wish them bon voyage,

I'm not going to say goodbye,

I would much prefer to say au revoir.

The Eliott Collection has been an enormous success

with both the press and the public.

And as a director of the company,

may I say Sears Roebuck is proud to be associated with them.

So would you join me in a toast, please,

to Beatrice and Evangeline, the House of Eliott.

B, Evie?

You're welcome.

Thank you, not only for allowing us

to show our designs in America and embark

on what promises to be a successful venture,

but also for all the warmth and hospitality you've shown us.

Evie?

Well we've had a wonderful time

and we're looking forward to our next visit.

Thank you.

So how are you, glad to be going home?

In a way.

We've really had a terrific time here though.

Yes, Beatrice looks very happy.

Yes, Donald's been very kind to us both.

This trip has done us the world of good.

Is Beatrice fond of Donald?

Yes.

Oh please, Donald, there's so many people

I want to say goodbye to.

All right, I'll find us some fruit compote.

I'm not going to spoil the party with business,

but tell me, are you now going to consider designing

ready-to-wear gowns on a more regular basis?

Oh I don't know, I think with the season coming up at home

we're going to be pretty tied up

with the Couture Collection.

Oh, of course.

As long as your experience with Sears Roebuck

hasn't put you off the whole idea.

Not at all, it's been very interesting

to see just how much demand there is

for high quality gowns in your stores.

Hasn't put us off anything.

Good.

Oh, excuse me, there's Harry.

He'll want to say goodbye to you as well.

Pretty tied up?

We've only been here six weeks,

you're beginning to sound like an American.

So?

Hi.

What have I done?

I think "gone native" is the expression.

No more of that after tomorrow, hey?

No, I suppose not.

Still, we have plenty to look forward to in England.

Can I have the next dance please?

Why of course.

I'm gonna be late if I don't watch out.

Percy's coming round me house at seven.

Oh come on, it's not even six o'clock yet.

It's as near as makes no difference, I'm off home.

Good evening!

You're back!

How are you, Tilly?

Fine, everything's fine.

Welcome back.

You should have let us know when you were arriving,

we could have had someone meet you.

Well, we wanted to surprise you.

Miss Eliott, I had no idea.

How are you?

How have you be managing?

I'm not sure where to start.

Please don't give me the details this minute,

everything looks well under control.

We just about managed.

If you want to get off home, then please do.

Thank you, Miss Evie.

I suppose the mother-in-law's expecting me straight back.

Goodnight, Madge.

See you tomorrow.

Goodnight.

I'm just going to say hello to Alice and then-

Ah.

What do you mean, "ah"?

Perhaps we should go through to your office.

It was very difficult.

Well what was?

What's happened to her?

Mrs Burgoyne received a most generous offer

from Maison Gille, Premier Founders.

That's ridiculous.

Alice wouldn't walk out for a better job.

Well she walked out of Huzzahs for us.

Mrs Burgoyne and I, it was fine at first

and then we found we...

I'm not laying all the blame on her, mind,

it was just perhaps I was a little overzealous in my duties.

I was anxious to make sure everything went smoothly.

I can see that Mrs Burgoyne might have

regarded that as interference.

Did she say as much?

She pointed out that I was a bookkeeper, not a couturier,

and well, she was quite right.

When did all this happen?

Last week.

She didn't even wait to take her wages

and left on the Friday.

But what about our clients, who's been attending to them?

I've done my best.

Tilly has been most helpful.

Hello, Mum.

Hello, Madge.

Wipe your feet.

I dunno, you turn your back for five minutes

and look what happens.

Thanks, Tilly.

It weren't all his fault though,

she was dead set on going.

Well I find it hard to imagine

Joseph upsetting anyone that much.

Did you see much of what went on?

Some, couldn't help it half the time.

She ain't half got a voice on her,

that woman, when she tries.

There were shouting matches?

Oh no, not in front of the clients, never got that bad.

So what actually happened?

Silly things.

Brewers rang, said they had water damage in their warehouse,

they'll have to get a new batch of grape in for us.

I mean, it was gonna to be a couple of days, that's all.

She went mad.

"Well who do you think you are?

"You can't do this to the House of Eliott.

"Right, you're having no more orders off us."

Slamming the telephone down.

And I mean, they've been good to us, Brewers.

It's all right now though,

Mr Wint got it all sorted out in the end.

In fact, it wasn't Joseph's fault at all.

No.

Except...

Go on.

He came in in a mourning suit.

Pardon?

Well after Mrs Burgoyne left,

the Duchess of Chilham made an appointment

and Mr Wint said he'd better receive her, so...

-He hired a mourning suit. -A mourning suit.

And?

She was very gracious.

I mean, she shook hands with him and all that,

and said she better make an appointment

when you two got back.

And Mr Wint, he bowed.

I ain't half glad you're home.

Smashing cottage pie, Mum.

Yeah, I wasn't expecting to come home to a hot meal.

It's a cold night, and it's your favourite?

They call it ground beef in America,

and they make it into sort of rissoles, hamburgers,

and then they fry them up with-

I don't think I fancy that.

Oh no, they're ever so tasty.

We had a lovely capon for our Christmas, didn't we, Jerry?

Bit too much for just the two of us,

but it was ever so nice.

Mum's been a real trooper since you've been away, Madge.

Well, that's what I'm here for.

Oh, by the way, I cleared out the back cupboard for you.

There's all sorts of rubbish in there wanted throwing out.

That's very good of you.

Someone had to hold the fort

while you was off gallivanting, didn't we?

How long have we been back in England?

About 12 hours.

Seems like months.

Thank you.

Were you expecting a letter from Jack?

No, why should I be?

There's a lovely telegraph from Donald, I mean "wire."

Oh yes?

"Welcome home, stop,

"America's loss is England's gain, stop.

"In touch soon, stop."

You made a great impression on Donald Bradley.

Well I should think so, we brought

a lot of prestige to Sears Roebuck.

Is that all?

I obviously failed miserably in how I brought you up,

you're far too nosy for your own good.

I know.

Still, I didn't get a telegraph from Franklin.

Or Jeffrey, or Arnold K Winstanley Jr?

It was fun, wasn't it?

Yes.

Do you know Miriam asked us if we were

considering doing any more ready-to-wear?

Hmm?

Well do you think we ought

to look at the idea more seriously?

Well all ideas are worth looking at, B.

But it's not what we do best is it?

Says here they're artificial silk.

It's called rayon.

Everyone wears rayon stockings in America.

Well it feels like silk.

Now they don't darn as easy as silk,

but then they don't need it so often.

They wear ever so well and you can wash them and everything.

Very kind, I'm sure.

Thanks ever so much, Madge.

I'm going to wear them tonight when I see Percy.

And just before that you'll make

a start on Miss Hampton's collar, all right?

Yes, Mrs Foss.

Mr Charles?

I didn't forget you.

Oh, I say.

They're from Havana.

Oh!

I got some for you and some for Mr Wint.

Well, thank you very much, Madge, that's very kind of you.

Madge, will you give me two minutes to make sure

everyone's set up and I'll show you what's going on?

Yeah.

Is she all right?

Well she took a lot responsibility when everyone was away,

especially when-

Oh I know, I heard.

She would have enjoyed a trip to America.

Don't worry, I won't rub her nose in it.

Mrs. Armstrong will be here in 15 minutes.

And then there's no one for the rest of the day.

And only Miss Hampton tomorrow.

I know it's my fault, but I just didn't know what to do.

The ladies wish to see other ladies,

and without Mrs Burgoyne-

No one is blaming you, Joseph.

You obviously managed very well

under very trying circumstances.

They all said they'd rebook once you were home.

Well, most of them did.

I'm sure they will, Joseph.

So if you'll excuse me, I have a good deal

of my own work to catch up with.

Of course.

Five appointments all week, B.

Do you think Alice just took all her clients

with her to Maison Gille?

I don't know.

She certainly didn't bring any with her from Huzzahs to us.

Maybe we just underestimated the importance

of actually being here ourselves.

All the accounts are up to date.

Everyone seems to be paying their bills.

A-ha.

What?

Top of page 10.

"Maison Gille's Winter Collection.

"100 glittering evening gowns."

We obviously have a lot of catching up to do.

Hello.

Oh, good morning.

I'd like to see the Eliott sisters please,

and I know they're back.

-Look, Miss Keeble, -Grace.

As I said to you last time, Miss Keeble,

it would be much better if you were to make an appointment.

Are they busy now?

They're with a client this very moment.

How long will they be?

Couldn't really say.

10 minutes, half an hour?

Possibly.

Then I'll wait.

In here all right?

It's gorgeous, I simply adore it.

Oh, I must say it has turned out awfully well.

Mrs Burgoyne looked after you I presume?

Yes.

Turn round, darling.

We were all most surprised when

Mrs Burgoyne decamped to Maison Gille.

But she seems happy enough there.

Yes, that is charming.

Now get changed, quickly, darling.

Thank you.

You will both come this evening, won't you?

There are so many people dying to talk to you about America.

Oh yes, of course, it's Jessica's 21st, isn't it?

Yes, the invitation was waiting for us when we got home.

We are looking forward to it.

By the way, I hope I've done the right thing, my dear.

I know things have been awkward between you and Jack,

but he and the children have been such charms.

Simon has been trying to telephone him for weeks.

Well, he was in Germany before Christmas.

Oh, well that's probably it then.

Simon sent him an invitation, so if he's there, he's there,

and if he's not, he isn't.

Jesse, darling, come on, quickly.

Oh, there's a young lady to see you, a Miss Keeble.

A client?

I don't know, Miss Eliott.

She came a couple of times while you were away, but she-

Hello, my name is Grace Keeble.

Hello.

Miss Keeble.

It's all right, I haven't come to buying anything.

Then how may we help you?

Please sit down.

I've come to show you these.

What do you think?

Do you like them?

Well yes, they're very good.

Would you like to buy them?

I beg your pardon?

I'm a fashion designer like you.

Trouble is, unlike you, I don't have a fashion house.

So I'm trying to sell me designs to someone who does.

I'm afraid the House of Eliott doesn't buy designs.

Why not?

Because my sister and I do all the designing ourselves.

I see.

It's nothing to do with the quality of the work.

No, of course not.

It's just never been our policy to employ other designers.

Have you ever had any of these made up at all?

I done this one.

Oh, where did you, I mean, who?

I made it.

I done dress making and ladies tailoring

at the technical school in Shoreditch.

Did you?

That's not bad.

But not good enough to get you to buy my designs, hey?

If you're seeking employment, Miss Keeble,

we occasionally have vacancies in the workroom.

I've been in workrooms,

I've done outwork and it's not for me.

As I said, I'm a designer and that's what I'm going to do.

Well, I'm terribly, sorry.

I only come to you because I knew

you started from nothing.

Still, another time, hey?

Look, I am sorry if we appear rude,

it's just, well no one's ever brought

their designs to us before.

You did rather take us by surprise.

Your work is good.

You've obviously gone to a great deal of trouble.

The designs are very promising.

I can't guarantee that they will ever

be sold or even made up, but we would be prepared

to buy a couple of them as drawings.

Depending on the price of course.

Does five shillings each sound reasonable?

A guinea the pair.

Very well.

I'll get my chequebook.

Cash.

I'll go and see Joseph, shall I?

Sorry I'm late, Perce, been waiting long?

Long enough to get flippin' freezing.

Come on, let's go to a caf and warm up.

Yeah, all right.

Here, listen, you got any cash on you, girl?

Only, I left my wallet at home, see?

Oh yeah, I got enough for our dinner.

Good girl, I'll pay you back tonight.

Right, Mr Baker, that's a gross of black cotton,

gross of white,

20 yards of the narrow lace trim,

20 yards of the wide stuff.

Tuppence a yard we said.

Tuppence, three farthings on orders

less than 50 yards, Mr Cotter.

Tuppence, farthing and I'll make it 30 yards of each.

And I'll have a bolt of the same interfacing

I had last time and a gross of the silver gilt buckles.

Dragon fly or Pharaoh's head?

Dragon fly if you please, Mr Baker,

can't even sell the Egyptian look in Manchester anymore.

= Very well.

Miss Eliott, please come in, come in.

You managed to find those buttons for me then?

Not one kind, but two.

Really?

I'll be with you in a tick, Mr Cotter.

Now, this is the tortoiseshell you wanted to see.

Mm-hmm.

And this one is Indian buffalo horn.

Oh, I like that.

I'll have a dozen of both of those.

Of course, I shall be with you directly.

Oh forgive me for interrupting your business.

It's quite all right, no trouble at all.

It is Miss Eliott of the House of Eliott, isn't it?

That's right.

Well now, I'm very pleased to meet you, Larry Cotter.

I've been an admirer of yours for a long time.

How kind.

I remember when you showed those Nocturne gowns

a couple of years ago, people were clamouring

for violet silk for months afterwards.

Really?

Oh yes, couldn't get enough of it.

And your last collection, even after

all the business with Lord-

Well, all water under the bridge now.

I'm in the fashion business myself, you know.

Not quite in the same circles as yourself, obviously.

I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.

That's all right.

I'm more in ready-to-wear.

And of course I've been reading

great things about your American tour.

Thank you very much, good day.

So nice to talk to you, Miss Eliott,

I do hope we meet again.

Yes, I hope so too.

Oh, let me give you my card.

Thank you.

Show me those buttons again.

You got anything like that in bakelite?

I did suggest a small orchestra playing real music

but she wouldn't hear of it.

Come on, Jessica.

My dears, hello, here's the birthday girl.

The Americans had the most wonderful cotton buttons,

really fresh, vivid colours.

Isn't that what they use the slaves for?

Not anymore, no.

They have a consignment arriving any day.

Maybe you would like to drop in and see them?

Yes, I might, when I have a moment.

Darlings, protect me.

If I have to listen to one more old

droning on about the dangers of modern living, I shall die.

Happy birthday, Jess.

I say, you look frightfully elegant.

That's not a Gilles number is it?

No, it's an Eliott.

Oh, I didn't think of going there.

It's just that everybody went along

to the Maison Gilles collection,

and I rather went along with them, and once one's there,

it's frightfully hard to resist, isn't it?

Jessica, happy birthday.

Thank you.

Do you know there were eight Americans

on parade at the same time?

Gown after gown, and each one more splendid than the last.

I see we shall have to look to our laurels

if Maison Gille's going to mount

such an extravagant collection each season.

Oh, my dear Beatrice, I'm sure you have

no cause for concern, none at all.

Good.

Would you excuse me a moment?

Having fun?

Not really, no.

Oh, is-

No, Jack's not here after all.

It's just, if I see one more Gille gown...

Nevermind, I've extracted promises to visit us

from at least a dozen people.

Well done.

Beatrice, Evangeline, the very people.

Jessica is driving me to distraction.

It's been going on for weeks, but when Colonel Stanhope

brought the subject up again, her eyes positively lit up

and I suddenly thought,

you're just the ones to solve the problem.

What exactly is the problem?

Well, Jessica is quite determined

to take up some sort of paid employment.

I can't imagine why.

It's not as if she needed money, but there we are.

And I suddenly thought of you.

Well Jessica could be your new vendor.

We're certainly very flattered by Jessica's interest-

Oh, do say yes.

After all, you do need a new vendor

and Jessica knows absolutely everyone.

Well we could certainly talk to her.

Splendid, she'll be thrilled.

And to be quite honest,

I don't really mind her doing that sort of thing.

After all, it's not what one would call a real job, is it?

Jessica, darling.

It's nice to be back in me own bed again.

Hurry up and get in so I can warm my feet up.

In a minute, love.

Did you miss me while I was away?

Yes, of course I did.

Don't know what I'd have done if mum hadn't been so good.

That's not what I meant.

Hey?

Nevermind.

Give us a cuddle.

In a minute, love.

Only I've got to be up early tomorrow morning.

Mr Simmons is down with a bad tummy,

so I've got to do all the timetables

as well as doing ticket office.

Best get some sleep then.

Yes, I think so.

Goodnight.

Night night.

Good morning now, Jess, let us just take you through

to the vendor's office and we will explain

exactly what the job entails.

This way.

I must say, it will be quite novel

ordering frocks from one's own daughter.

Ah, Tilly, perhaps Mrs Armstrong

would like to see some designs while we talk to Jessica?

Of course.

This way, Jessica.

Would you like a tea or a coffee, Mrs Armstrong?

Obviously you've seen what a vendor does

on your visits as a client.

Oh absolutely.

You show them the designs, find out which one they want

and make appointments.

Well it's a little more complicated than that.

You must check with the workroom

at each stage of the process, make sure they can get

the work done in time for the fittings

and make sure either Madge or Tilly

are free to attend the fittings.

And ideally you should make every client feel

that she is the most important person you know.

Yes, Mrs Burgoyne was awfully good at that.

Almost like a best friend, really.

You could tell her absolutely everything.

I'm sure I don't have to remind you, Jess,

that the fitting room has the same confidentiality

as the priest's confessional.

Hear and instantly forget, Jess.

Gosh, yes.

Another aspect of the job is to woo the client,

encourage them to visit the House of Eliott

as opposed to, say-

Maison Gille for instance.

Can't people go where they like?

Yes, of course they can,

but we'd much prefer it if they came here.

Yes, I suppose you would.

Well that's all right, everyone will think

it's the most enormous wheeze to come and buy from me.

Ah, what about other clients,

people you don't actually know?

Do you feel you could introduce yourself socially

as well as balance the business side of things?

Yes, I'm terribly sociable.

Well I think that's all for the moment.

Jess, would you care to join your mother in the reception,

and Evie and I will just see if there's

anything else we haven't discussed yet.

All right.

Triumph or disaster?

It's difficult to say, it could be either.

She has all the right connections,

but she must try and cultivate a more professional attitude.

It would only be temporary.

Let's give her a try.

Miss B, telephone call for you

from Barracks Picture Studio.

I'll just come through.

Oh, Evie, will you finish off the Armstrongs?

Yes, yes.

Mr Barrack, hello, how nice to hear from you.

I'm fine, how are you?

No, I haven't heard from him.

All I know is Jack was staying in Germany

til the film is finished.

I assumed he'd be back by now.

Well yes, I'll tell him if I see him.

Goodbye.

Tilly, will you tell Evie I'll be out over the lunch hour?

Yes, Miss B.

Thank you.

And we saw Greta Garbo in the Temptress.

All those men chasing after her I could have hit her.

You'll have to go and see it when it comes here, Mr Charles,

it's lovely.

Well that's the great beauty

of the motion picture, isn't it?

It takes you right out of yourself, into a whole new world.

It's just like being there.

You keen on the pictures then?

Love them, Madge.

Do you know I saw The Sheikh five times?

You never!

I did.

Yeah, I must say though, I do envy you your trip to America.

That must've been wonderful.

It was really something, as they say.

I'm getting really brassed off

with all this talk about America.

I suspect you are too, aren't you Tilly?

No, not really, Madge ain't told me too much about it.

So could you start tomorrow?

10 o'clock.

8:30 is when we usually like to get started.

Isn't this exciting?

Calm down, dear.

Now, will Jess be dealing exclusively

with your couture clients or will she be expected to

meet the ready-to-wear people as well?

We've only designed one ready-to-wear collection

and that was in America.

Oh!

You sound surprised.

Well I thought I saw that particular gown

in a shop in Kensington just this morning.

No, it's-

Oh yes, it had exactly the same collar.

So distinctive.

It's rather nice actually.

I mean, one doesn't buy ready-to-wear oneself, but-

Which shop was it exactly?

Yes?

Who on earth are you?

Good afternoon, madam, may I help you?

I'm not sure.

I was just looking at this dress in the window.

Would madam care to try it on?

No, I don't think so.

It's just...

I wondered who designed it.

It's not a Paris copy is it?

It's not a copy at all, madam.

It's a Grace Keeble original.

Grace Keeble, I don't think I've ever heard of her.

She trained in Paris with Worth and then Poiret,

though she's also designed for the House of Eliott.

Afraid I haven't got a clue where he is.

I haven't heard from the old so-and-so for weeks,

I was starting to get a bit concerned.

Tonnes of letters for him.

Have you heard anything?

No, I haven't

Forgive me, what are you actually doing here?

Human anatomy at the moment.

Finals coming up in the summer,

Jack said I could look after the flat

while he was in Germany.

And he's still there?

Well if he isn't, he hasn't told me.

I see.

I say, you don't mind me being here do you?

Only Jack did say-

That we're separated?

Yes, no I don't mind you being here.

Did you want to pick up some of your things?

Yes, but not at the moment.

I am just a little concerned as to Jack's whereabouts,

that's all.

Hello, you come to tell me you're making up my designs?

I most certainly have not.

I've come to ask you what the devil

you think you're playing at.

In what way?

I think we should discuss this indoors, may I come in?

No, if you're going to be rude,

you can say what you've got to say out here.

I see, very well, Miss Keeble.

I've just come from Miss Pemberton's dress shop

in Kensington.

Oh yeah?

Where your dress,

the one whose design you sold to us,

was displayed in the window.

So?

You sold that design to us, Miss Keeble.

I sold you a couple of drawings.

You made it quite clear you weren't going to make them up,

that they weren't good enough for your clientele.

You never asked me if I was selling anywhere else.

That is not the way business is done.

Not in your world perhaps, Miss Eliott,

but in my world you do business any way you can.

Goodnight.

How dare she march into our office

and sell us designs she's already sold to someone else.

And to actually tell that woman

she designed for the House of Eliott.

And to leave me standing on the doorstep.

I've never been so...

Don't you think this is outrageous?

Well I don't see how it really affects us.

We weren't going to make the designs up anyway.

That's not the point, we might have done, B.

It's the principal.

I think you've just had your nose put out of joint

because Mrs Armstrong thought

they were good enough to be your designs.

Don't be so absurd.

Aren't you the least bit interested in this?

Frankly no, not very, I have other things to think about.

What's happened, B?

Nothing, I can't find Jack.

No one can.

What?

That telephone call from Abraham Barrack this morning,

he's been trying to trace Jack in Germany.

He isn't at the address he said he'd be at,

he's not at the studio.

So I went round to the flat,

But I thought-

And there was a stranger there.

Jack's let the flat to a tenant without even telling me,

without...

He didn't know where Jack was either.

What's happened to him, Evie?

I'll be glad to get home,

have a nice cup of tea, won't you?

Here, here.

You'll be all right soon, won't you?

I beg your pardon?

When do you and your fiance get married?

You'll come home to find a nice farm, won't you?

Supper on the table, slippers by the arm.

Good cook is she, your fiance?

Yeah, excellent.

What's her name?

Stand back ladies.

Ain't you got no manners?

I'll be glad to get home, won't you, Madge?

Yeah.

Tilly, what's the matter?

Miss Armstrong's just asked me to make tea

for her and her clients in the fitting room.

Has she indeed?

What was I supposed to do?

I couldn't exactly say no in front of them.

It's not done though, is it?

No, it's not.

Well do it this once and I'll have a word

with Miss Armstrong.

All right.

Oh, by the way, them flowers arrived

for you about 20 minutes ago.

I've just been running around so much

I didn't have time to tell you.

All right, Tilly, thank you.

You're welcome.

All right, I lied.

But what difference does it make?

You'd never have known if that Eliott woman hadn't told you.

You liked the dress didn't you?

It hasn't changed, has it?

I do not wish to discuss the matter any further.

Are you telling me that a dress is worth 30 guineas

if it's made by Grace Keeble of the House of Eliott

and nothing if it's not?

Yes, and now if you would be

so good as to return my money.

Good morning.

Good morning, how are you?

But it's the same colour as the one

I tried on at Maison Gille.

No, no, that was a more subtle shade.

Try the black one.

Mummy would have a fit.

She'd think I was in mourning.

Yes, but jolly elegant mourning.

Try it on for fun.

Oh, hello, Miss Eliott, may I present Miss Charlotte Parker.

Good morning.

Miss Julia Colbrook.

Morning.

I'll make sure someone brings you an ashtray.

Jessica, may I have a word?

Yes.

Excuse me.

I've spoken to just about everyone I know

and they've all been terribly kind.

Mrs. Fitzwalter's coming in next week sometime

and Mrs Babbage and her daughter, Pamela,

you know the one with the red hair?

They've promised to come and visit.

And you met Julia and Charlotte.

They tried on absolutely heaps of stuff.

Did they order anything?

Not exactly.

What about the others?

Have they made any definite appointments?

More or less.

I mean, they will.

They all seem terribly keen.

Which is saying something when you think

how besotted everyone is with Monsieur Gille.

Jessica, I know you're new and I appreciate

you helping us out like this,

but you must try and cultivate a more professional attitude.

We need solid orders.

Yes, Miss Eliott.

And no more coffee and cigarettes

in the fitting room or the office.

Just think what would happen if something got spilled.

Sorry, I will try and do better, honestly.

It's all right.

Oh, Beatrice.

Yes.

Daddy's taking a gun at Argonaut Castle this weekend.

He wants mummy and me to go to sort of a house party.

So I'd like to take Friday off.

Madge, madge?

Have I done something to upset you?

No, why do you ask?

I've just got it into my head

that you're not speaking to me.

Whatever made you think that?

I don't know, it's just that you've been

nattering on to everyone else

about America and all that stuff,

and you haven't said a single word to me.

I thought we were friends.

You daft apeth.

I thought you minded me going.

I thought it'd seem like gloating.

I've been dying to tell you.

I didn't think you wanted to know.

Me a daft apeth?

Here, come back and have your tea at our house.

I can tell you all about America

and you can tell me all about old Mrs Burgoyne.

I can't 'cause Norman's on nights tonight

and I do want to get back and see him

before he goes to work.

Sunday's tomorrow though.

I'll make us a lardy cake.

Don't I've been eating so much.

of course I remember you, Mr Cotter.

Well I'm afraid I'm a bit busy at the moment.

Oh yes, what sort of proposition?

Well, if you hold on I'll just check my diary.

I'm afraid I'm busy all day, Mr Cotter.

What on earth is this?

Seven o'clock, Friday, yes, I'll be there.

Who the hell do you think you are?

I beg your pardon?

You heard.

How dare you?

How dare I?

It's all right for her to come storming round my home,

asking me what I'm playing at,

and it's not all right me doing the same, huh?

I came to see you because I felt you'd

dealt with us in an underhand manner.

And what did you lose by it?

Did you lose your living?

Did all the ladyships stop coming to the House of Eliott

'cause you was conned out of one rotten guinea?

Miss Keeble, what exactly is your complaint?

Do you know how much that material costs me?

Do you know how long I've been trying to get

someone to look at my designs, take 'em seriously?

A whole flamin' year.

Walking around fashion houses, shops, warehouses,

begging introductions to women

who look down their noses at me

'cause I don't have the right accent.

That frock was the first one I sold.

Yeah, all right, I spun her a bit of a line,

otherwise she wouldn't have looked twice at the dress.

I mean, it's not talent that counts in this game, is it?

You know what she done, Miss Pemberton,

after you'd gone and stuck your nose in?

She demanded her money back,

said she only dealt in exclusive couture designs.

So you have it.

You paid a guinea for the exclusive design,

you have the dress.

I'm sorry, I didn't realise.

'Cause you didn't flamin' think, did you?

what does it take, hey?

What do I have to do to get a job?

I thought you of all people would understand.

I mean, I remember hearing you actually

nicked clients from under Giroux nose

when you first started.

You weren't proud then.

You didn't have House of Eliott policies then.

But you've made it now, haven't you?

You can afford policies.

Yeah, and pulling the ladder up after you

is just one of them, I suppose.

Well, there's bigger fish in the sea than you.

I hear Maison Gille has whole rooms full of designers.

Maybe he's grand enough not to be scared of new talent.

Miss Keeble, would you mind waiting

in the reception for five minutes?

I must speak with my sister.

What?

Yeah, all right.

Thank you.

No, B, absolutely not, out of the question.

Perhaps for a trial period, say for a season?

Purely from our point of view,

I can see the benefits of having a trainee designer.

Yes, so can I, but not her?

Why not?

Because, because she's awful.

You said yourself, she's very talented.

Perhaps she wouldn't be so awful

if she wasn't so frustrated at every turn.

Think about it, Evie, we've seen it for ourselves.

She was overwhelming us with sheer weight of numbers.

Yes, well she's not exactly going to solve

that problem for us, is she?

Not yet, no, but eventually we're going

to have to take on someone if we're to survive.

I'd rather it was someone we'd trained ourselves.

Perhaps to take on the daywear,

leave you more time for the special evening gowns?

She's still got a great deal to learn.

Delicious.

I thought we were having lardy cake?

You know, I tried making waffles for Jerry and his mother

and they wouldn't even try them.

Don't know what they're missing.

Mind you, since I've been expecting

I've been a devil for anything sweet.

That maple syrup...

Take it home with you, go on,

I've got another jar in the cupboard.

Oh thank you, Madge.

I bet it's funny being all ordinary back here,

after being so grand in America.

How was your boat?

Did you get to sit on the captain's table?

No.

I'm gonna show you what I nicked off the boat.

You what?

Oh, it's only a paper napkin,

and one of them little fancy menu cards,

but it says "SS Laconia" on them in lovely gold letters.

Oh Madge.

Ah, hello, Tilly.

Hello.

Heya, Jerry, have you seen that

paper napkin hat was in here?

You know the one off the boat.

I threw it out, why?

You did what?

I'm sorry, Madge, I didn't think it was important.

Anyway, we hardly need to keep paper napkins, do we?

Any chance of a cup of tea?

Beatrice?

Hello.

Thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful.

By the end of the day we'd actually taken on

the extraordinary Miss Keeble.

I think you'll be glad you did.

Oh, you haven't met her.

No, but I've met people like her.

Tough, hungry, from the wrong side of the tribes.

Yes.

They know what's needed in shops, offices,

what Mrs General Manager is willing

to pay for a cocktail dress.

That hardly applies to the House of Eliott.

The world is changing, Beatrice.

Of course there'll always be a place for a couturier,

but mark my words, it'll be a very bad mistake

to underestimate the power of that woman,

and of all the others like her.

Yes, Donald.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take up

our first evening talking business.

No, neither did I.

It's so good to see you again.

Do you wish to order now, sir?

Charles, Joseph, ladies,

I would like to introduce Miss Grace Keeble.

As from this morning, she will be joining us

as a trainee designer.

Jess, I didn't say anything at the time

because you had obviously made all the arrangements,

but in future we would prefer it

if you didn't ask for days off, just like that.

If it's terribly important then I'm sure

we can come to some sort of arrangement.

Yes, I know, I am awfully sorry.

But it was terribly useful.

Really?

And I'd done it all properly.

Look, Charlotte Parker at 10, Julia at 11,

Mrs Campbell and Mrs Prescott-White in the afternoon,

and I'd rather said you'll do

the fitting for my godmother on Thursday.

That's the Duchess of Chilham.

She said on Saturday she was dying to meet you.

Really?

And I've given Madge and Tilly a list

of all the appointments for next week,

so there's no confusion.

How many appointments are there?

About nine in all, and half a dozen or so for next week.

Is that all right?

Yes, splendid.

Well done.

This is Tilly, our specialist in bead work and embroidery.

I did embroidery at Barrett Street.

How many of these beads per square inch

can you use without dragging the fabric?

I'm sure Tilly will be happy

to tell you anything you don't know.

Look, what I need to know is cutting, you said yourself-

I said we'd train you to design for the House of Eliott.

We'll start with fabrics.

Well I shall be round in about an hour then.

Right, good night.

Jack's tenant's going out for the evening,

so I'm going to go round and collect the rest of my things.

Where are you going?

Out to dinner with Larry Cotter, remember?

Not that I'm looking forward to it.

Wouldn't have agreed to go at all if grace hadn't barged in.

I knew you'd find something to blame her for.

You see, our worlds are merging, Miss Eliott,

growing together as it were.

But the aristocracy, the well off, so to speak,

they're not quite as well off as they were,

and the people that made do with what they could always get,

well, they're getting paid more, so they can get more.

Do you see what I mean?

I think so.

Thank you so much.

Anyway, somewhere in the middle ground

is the sort of woman that wants couture style at,

well, not quite for high street prices, but,

well, Bond Street prices if you follow my meaning.

Yes, I follow you.

Of course you do.

Now this is the area where someone such as yourself

might well do business with someone such as myself.

You, a highly respected couturier,

knows one end of the business,

and I've sold a thousand dresses

up and down every high street in Britain.

Now, where you sell silk, I'd sell cotton.

We'd sell good quality artificial silk.

We've got a lot to learn from each other, Miss Eliott.

That may be so, Mr Cotter, but quite frankly,

apart from our one American venture,

I can't really see the House of Eliott

going into ready-to-wear on such a large scale.

No?

You've got full order books til 1930 have you?

Is Lady Harriet Ponsonby Smythe

still ordering 20 ball gowns each season?

Well no, but-

What's your annual profit?

Same as last year?

Mine's almost doubled, has yours?

Mr Davenport?

What I've got in mind is your artistry, your prestige,

coupled with my manufacturing and retailing experience.

An exclusive label sold in exclusive shops.

Sounds like a fascinating idea,

but quite honestly I don't see my sister and I

being willing compromise the quality of our work,

merely in order to attract what may prove to be

a less discriminating clientele.

Manmade fabrics are all very well, but-

I knew you'd agree with me there.

I beg your pardon?

I noticed you were wearing

rayon stockings the minute you walked in.

Very nice too, if I may say so.

No thank you.

Would you like a coffee, Mr Cotter?

I'm so sorry, Mr Davenport, I thought-